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N'ew York, October 23, 1854. 

To the Editor of the Washington Union. 

Sir, 

Under the pretext of subjecting to literary criticism 
" The School for Politics," a Dramatic Novel, written by me, 
and published by Messrs. Appleton <fe Co., of New York, the 
" Louisiana Courier" of the 4th inst. has thought proper to 
indulge in the following personal strictures. 

" We should have seen (speaking of me) a man of aristo- 
cratic habits, priding himself on his illustrious descent, yet 
nominally attached to the Democratic party ; and seeking 
station and influence through his association with a party 
which he in reality despised, and only wanted an occasion 
to betray. We should have seen a man who, when elected 
to the United States' Senate, renounced, in a few weeks, the 
trust that had been confided to him, and sought the more 
congenial shores of Europe, in order to be free from inter- 
course with a people among whom he declared no gentle- 
man could live. We should have seen a man who, returning 
from foreign travel, again became a follower, and aspired 
to be a leader of the peoi^le he had abandoned and ridiculed ; 
a man who sought to use a generous and confiding party 
for the advancement of his own ambitious views, and de- 
serted and denounced it when his own arrogance and vanity 
had caused his defeat before a convention of political 
friends." 

If this tissue of calumnies, some of which are so grossly 
absurd that they seem to have been written in the very 
delirium of impotent rage and malignity, had been permit- 
ted to rot where it had been woven, and to remain buried 
in the columns of the " Courier," whose circulation hardly 
extends beyond the limits of the city of New Orleans, where 



6021 (^ 



the slanderer and the slandered are so well known, any at- 
tempt at refutation on my part would have implied an ex- 
cess of humility of which I am incapable. But what was 
unworthy of notice in the "Louisiana Courier," claims my 
attention in your journal. My answer to the charges 
brought against me will be as brief as possible, and will 
consist merely in a statement of facts which can be easily 
ascertained, and which, I believe, no one will have the 
hardihood to deny,' after investigation. 

I am sure you will understand how painful it is for a man 
possessed of proper delicacy of feelings, thus to enter into 
an analysis of his own life. But the task has been forced 
upon me ; and, should it compel me to disclose facts of too 
flattering a nature, and which, otherwise, would never 
have been revealed, be it remembered that it is to be 
attributed, not to any boastful disposition for which I 
should be the first to blame myself but to the necessity of 
defence against the " Courier's" attack, when reproduced by 
3'ou. Here are the facts. 

In July, 1830, a few months after my return from Phila- 
delphia, where I had passed three years in the study of 
law, I was elected a represen4'ative of the city of New Or- 
leans in the State Legislature. Although a bare youth at 
the time, I stood, if my recollection serves me right, at the 
head of the ticket composed of such men as Judge Workman 
and others, and I received almost the whole vote polled- 
This was, certainly, far more than I deserved. But, al- 
though a Democrat, it is evident that it was not as such 
that I was elected, and that I was not indebted for it to the 
party. On that occasion, the whole body of my fellow- 
citizens, and no party whatever, be«carae entitled to my 
gratitude. 



Shortly after, I accepted the office of Deputy Attorney 
General, tendered to me by a Whig Attorney General, with 
expressions of such personal respect and on such terms as 
to make the offer an honor which commanded acknowledg- 
ment. 

Subsequently, Governor Roman, a AYhig, tendered to me, 
and I accepted, the office of Presiding Judge of the City 
•Court of New Orleans, although I had never wavered in my 
democracy. For the proof of personal esteem thus given 
to me by that gentleman, I have ever since remained grate- 
ful. If this demonstrates that I possessed station and influ- 
ence (to use the " Courier's" phraseology), it is incontestable 
that it was not through association with any party. Much 
less had I sought office through the instrumentality of party, 
according to time-honored precedents, well known to the 
'' Courier ;" but office was brought home to me through 
the friendly partiality of political adversaries, despite the 
too^ strict allegiance to party with which I was often 
reproached. 

In 18^5, the Legislature was Wliig, and no Democrat 
could be elected to the Senate of the United States without 
obtaining three Whig votes. There was a host of aspi- 
rants, who were more deserving than myself of suj^port, 
and who had rendered more services to the Democratic 
cause than I had. I happened to be taken up by the De- 
mocratic party, because it was discovered that I was the 
only Democrat who, on personal grounds, could get three 
Whig votes. It was under such circumstances that I was 
elected a United States' Senator for six years, when barely 
possessing the constitutional age. But, Sir, do I violate 
the rules of logical deduction when I remain under the 
impression that, on that occasion, it was not through my 



association with a party, and through the deliberate and 
free support of that party, that I became a Senator ? On 
the contrai'y, it was through the disinterested and personal 
devotion of three Whig friends, who tliereby incurred the 
vituperation of their party, and only got in return the inef- 
fectual gratitude of one from whom they knew that they 
could not receive, and never expected or claimed, any 
political favor. 

When thus elected, I had been for many j'cars in declin- 
ing health, as physicians and many other witnesses can 
testify. I immediately departed for New York, and the 
medical advice I took in that city was so unfavorable, that 
I determined to visit Europe before the meeting of Con- 
gress. When in Paris, three of its most eminent physicians, 
Andral, Louis, and Marjolin, gave in writing a joint opinion, 
in which they declared that my health was such as to pre- 
clude my return to the United States. I sent this opinion 
to Mr. Alcee Labranche, my friend and agent in New 
Orleans, who handed it to Governor Roman, together with 
my resignation. Dr. Picton, wdio had been my physician 
before my departure for Euroj^e, applied for that docu- 
ment, in wdiieh he took a very natural interest as a man of 
science, got it from the archives of the State, and kept it 
several years in his possession. Where is the blame to be 
attached to me in all this? In the interval, there had been 
State elections, the Legislature had become Democratic, 
and, when I resigned, it was only to make way for one of 
my party. It was not for the motive alleged by the 
" Courier," and on free-will, but on compulsion, that I 
abandoned the trust reposed in me. Nor did I injure the 
party by resigning, and the "Courier" himself will admit 
despite his natural ob]i(juity still more distorted by the 



fierceness of his hatred, that but for my three Whig friends, 
and but for me, the Democratic party in Louisiana would 
not, in 1835, have had a representative in the Senate of the 
United States for a term of six years. 

If I remained eight years in Europe, it was not to idle 
away in the excellent and exalted society among which 
the " Courier" does me the honor to suppose that I moved. 
But, although I continued in feeble health for a long time, 
I prepared the materials, for that History of Louisiana to 
which I have devoted fifteen years of my life, and which I 
have published in three volumes. I hope the " Courier" 
will permit me to hazard the expression, without being 
taxed with vanity and arrogance, that my labors have been 
as meritorious and patriotic as his editorial lucubrations, 
and that they have been far more disinterested, since I 
might have employed my time more profitably in the pur- 
suit of fat jobs and offices, through that instrumentality of 
party which others have so skilfully wielded. 

In 1844, a few months after my return from Europe, it 
seems that, notwithstanding the manifestations of my ances- 
tral pride and my aristocratic associations, as depicted by 
the " Courier," I had not lost the confidence of the Demo- 
cratic party, since I was elected to the State Legislature, 
therein to represent the city of New Orleans, and was again 
re-elected in 1846. On both these occasions, I expressed 
freely my sentiments in public speeches which were repro- 
duced by the " Courier" with much applause. If this was 
seeking station and influence, it was at least in broad day- 
light, and from the people collectively. But that man lives 
not who can say that I sought his individual vote by per- 
sonal address, or that Jie ever saw me canvassing where 
such things are usually done. It is possible that, after several 



years' reflection, the "Courier" has come to the conchision, 
that this deportment of mine was aristocratic. Be it so ; 
but I am not one of those who think that the character of 
a Democrat and that of a gentleman are necessarily incom- 
patible. 

In 1846, Governor Johnson tendered me the office of Secre- 
tary of State, which I refused at first, and which I accepted 
only when he put it on the footing of assistance to the 
party and personal favor to himself. Whilst I was Secret 
tary of State, he offered me the office of Superintendent of 
Public Education, which I refused, and also the judicial seat 
vacated by the death of Judge Canon, Avhich I declined. 

Gov. Walker, who succeeded Gov. Johnson, again tendered 
me the office of Secretary of State, which I also declined, 
but Avhich I finally consented to fill, only when he appealed 
to the friendly feelings I hud for him, and on his permitting 
me to make conditions to which, with his usual kindness, 
he readily assented. To Gov. Johnson and to Gov. Walker 
I am grateful for these high testimonials of personal confi- 
dence. But I did not seek the office which I occupied seven 
j^ears under their successive administrations, and one of my 
reasons for consenting to take it was my being given to un- 
derstand that I was helping the party. 

Gov. Walker, on the resignation of Judge Preston, ten- 
dered me, through Mr. Sigur, the seat vacated on the bench 
of the Criminal Court of NeW Orleans, which, subsequently, 
was so worthily filled by Judge Larue. I declined. 

It is well known that I might, if I had chosen, have been 
twice nominated as candidate for Lieutenant Governor, 
first when Isaac Johnson, and next when Joseph Walker, 
ran for Governor, and were elected. I tiince refused with a 
pertinacity for which I even ineuired some reproach. 



Who will deny that I liave frequently been upbraided 
for not making the proper exertions to secure from the de- 
mocratic party my nomination as candidate for the office of 
Governor, and that I have invariably declared, verbally and 
in writing, that I might accept, but would not seek, that 
exalted position ? 

Messrs. Mouton, Johnson, and "Walker, occupied the gu- 
bernatorial chair in Louisiana for a consecutive period of 
ten years, and yet, although they were my intimate friends, 
it is well known that I never applied for those lucrative 
offices which I saw so ardently coveted by others. 

Such was the course pursued by the man whom the Cou- 
rier accuses of seekwg to use a generous and confiding 'party 
for the advancement of his own ambitious views 1 "What jus- 
tification can there be on the part of the Courier for this 
execrable misrepresentation, in the presence of facts which 
can be too easily established to permit even the shadow of 
a doubt to rest on their authenticity? Can personal hos- 
tility, heated to the very highest degree of madness, betray 
human nature into such a parade of wilful degradation ? 

On every presidential election, I have invariably taken 
the field and canvassed the State at my own expense, and 
not with funds furnished by the Democratic party, and 
yet there is not on record in any of the departments at 
Washington any application of mine for a share in the 
spoils. 

The first time I have ever desired any thing 'from the 
General Government, was shortly after the inauguration of 
General Pierce, when it was thought that the mission to 
Spain, to which the Courier sneeringly alludes, being sup- 
posed to be destined to the S<5uth, might with propriety be 
given to me. But let the Courier be informed that, on that 



8 

occasion, I was faithful to my antecedents. I did not use 
the party (to adopt the phraseology of the Courier), and 
did not curry any recommendation from the Legislature, or 
from any other source whatever in Louisiana ; and at 
Washington the matter was left altogether with our two 
Senators, and about half a score of gentlemen whose ex- 
alted position entitled them, I thought, to have weight with 
the Executive. I cannot forget the manner in which they 
expressed themselves to me on that occasion, and I must 
ever cherish the recollection of their good opinion. High 
influence was offered me to procure any thing else 
which I might desire, and I respectfully declined. The 
mere ambition for office would have been satisfied with 
w^hat it could get. If I was guilty of vanity in thinking 
that I had a peculiar fitness for the position in which I 
wished to be placed, I hope I shall not be blamed with too 
much severity, when it is recollected that I was encouraged 
in my delusion by those whose judgment was entitled to 
respect. K"or does it seem that I had not some good 
grounds to hope, for the Courier will remember the manner 
in which the news of my appointment was received in 
Louisiana and elsewhere, when it was erroneously an- 
nounced in the papers. I was told that both parties joined 
in the unanimity of their approbation, and that even my 
personal enemies expressed sentiments highly creditable to 
themselves and to me. I am willing to take the Courier's 
own statement on the subject, and stand corrected by him, 
if I have been led into error. 

The position I take, sir, after what I have stated above, 
is, that I have never used tlie democratic party for any 
purpose of my own ; that having never sought any favor 
from it, none couLl ever be refused or a:ranted ; that. S'i'.-h 



being the case, the democratic party never has had the 
opportunity to give me any cause of complaint, and that it 
is evidently impossible that I should have any reason what- 
ever to be discontented ,with its appreciation of what me- 
rits I may possess. 

It is a remarkable fact that, from 1830 to 1853 — a period 
of twenty-three years — I had been invariably lauded by 
the Courier as an unflinching and consistent Democrat, to 
whom no reproach could be addressed. But last year, I 
chose, with the approbation of the majority of the Demo- 
cratic party, as I thought, to denounce a clique who were 
breaking it down by using it for their own selfish and am- 
bitious views. I wgs not defeated before a convention of 
political friends, as the Courier says, but I peremptorily re- 
fused to' allow my name to be laid before the Convention, 
although some of our most influential leaders had given me 
the assurance that its verdict would be in my favor, if I 
appeared at its bar and recognised its jurisdiction, and I will 
give the Courier every facility to ascertain the truth of this 
assertion if he pleases. 

I was not defeated before that convention, because I did 
not permit my name to be brought before it, and therefore 
not a solitary vote was given either for or against me. But 
I determined to run as an indej^endent Democratic candi- 
date, for reasons which I published, and which remained 
without even an attempted answer. I further declared in 
every newspaper, that 1 would withdraw from the field if 
there could be found twelve men bold enough to maintain 
publicly that my assertions were not triie. Not a solitary 
individual, not even the Courier, ventured to come out with 
a denial, which would have required a degree of shameless- 
ness of which none seemed willing to assume the odium at 



10 

the time. Tlie day of election came, and on the Ith of No- 
vember, 1853, if I was defeated as an independent candi- 
date for Congress in the First Congressional District, it was 
only by the fabrication of about two thousand spurious 
votes. I denounced the stupendous fraud in a pamphlet 
which produced great sensation in the State, and I brought 
charges which no one dared to contradict. AVIien the bill 
of indictment was read by me, the silence of the culprits 
proved the extent of the guilt. It is too late, at this ele- 
venth hour, to raise an issue from which, at the time, it 
was thought wisdom to shrink. 

I throw down the gauntlet, and I defy any man in Lou- 
isiana to show, when and where I have ceased to be a con- 
sistent Democrat. I fearlessly and emphatically aver that 
there is not one act of my political life which admits of 
equivocation or doubtful construction, whilst in the small 
nest of those who arraign my democracy', there may b*t3 
more than one who cannot show such a clean bill of health. 
In a few words, here is the truth, and it is in vain that the 
Courier attempts to throw a veil over it. The truth is, I 
have refused allegiance to a clique in the party, and not 
to the party itself, and it is as ridiculous in them to say 
that I have thereby betrayed the party, as it would be on 
my part to maintain that they have denounced it by de- 
nouncing me and my friends. The contest is a fair and 
open one between us, and the party, so far as its sovereignty 
is implicated, has nothing to do with it, except deciding on 
which side is disinterestedness, capacity, and indifference to 
office, or selfishness, greediness, corrujjtion, and incapacity. 

In conclusion, I beg leave to say to the Courier, through 
your columns, that I receive his abuse with the same smile 
of equanimity with which I endured his praise. Hoping 



11 

that it may not again be my misfortune to correct in your 
journal any misstatement you may inadvertently copy from 
the Louisiana Courier, and to which you may thus give 
some momentary importance, I remain, (fee. 
Respectfully yours, 

Charles Gayarre. 



